How to Reuse Workbooks

Homeschool curriculum can get expensive. One way to save money is to reuse your curriculum with your younger children. If I want to reuse a workbook that my older child is currently using I have them complete the assignments on a separate piece of paper. This technique does not work as well with younger kids who sometimes get mixed up with the questions when they are using a different sheet of paper.

For my little kids I use a piece of transparency film or a page protector and place it over their worksheet page. They use a marker to answer the questions on the film and then I check their work and record it. When they are finished they clean off the page and use it again the next day.

The only problem with this technique is that you have no record of their work. Depending on your state, you might need to show a portfolio at the end of the year. If that is the case you can use the method for worksheets you will not be submitting with the portfolio. You could also have your child use this technique for worksheets but take the tests on a regular piece of paper so you have a record.

This idea works great for math facts pages and handwriting practice.

The Eastern Wind Academy is offering some great math helps for one of my readers.

We used ACE to homeschool. Halfway along the line, my mum started removing the staples from the PACEs, cut them down the middle along the fold, then put each page into its own sleeve/protector–the ones that go into a spiral-bound folder. Three PACEs usually fit into one folder and then a sticker was put on the spine to label the number. The folders were colour-coded for subject (eg, red folders were all English). It makes each PACE entirely reusable and the work is recorded until the next child reaches that level. On being issued a new PACE, somebody would just need to get tissues and methylated spirits to do a wipe-out job on the whole PACE (or the slack ones would do it as they go, lol). ACA (Aussie branch for homeschoolers) gave permission to reprint the tests so they would get photocopied before being used so that an actual hard-copy test could be mailed to headquarters. Other than us and our friends, I’ve never seen somebody come up with an idea like this or yours. I just thought I’d share ours (thought up by a friend).

What a great idea to use transparency paper so that books can be used over & over again. As a Mom to 4 kids, I needed this idea to help us conserve our workbooks. Thanks! I would love to win your giveaway as well. Thanks for the chance to enter.

I use page protectors as much as possible, the same way the lady described with the PACES. But there are some books that you can’t take apart easily, so the transparencies would be great for those books.

I’ve either laminated or placed several workbooks in sheet protector and then binders. I have some math and phonics in the sheet protectors. I also have rubrics as master pages to be copied like for writing and responding to reading. These last ones are good to have handy when you want to teach essay writing and you have the graphic organizers handy. You just make copies of them.

Question regarding the workbooks, when purchasing curriculums are you able to just purchase another workbook? Or do the cirruclums get outdated? I am just gathering materials for kindergarten, and am curious how that works. Thanks.

LOVE CurrClick for their great curriculum! Thanks for sharing the idea about the transparancies and sheet protectors! With lots of kids, it is always helpful to have good ways to stretch our curriculum and curriculum dollars!! Blessings!

I am thrilled to have found this site. I have one first grader and two pre-K . I am overwhelmed most days both with the opportunity and the challenges of homeschooling. We have engaged in more hands on learning and love it so far. I love that I have found a place to glean advice from more experienced moms. Thank you for all the wonderful resources!

We have used this for a couple of subjects. And though we do need to have a portfolio, I find that it really isnt’ all that hard to find a worksheet online or other item to print out that corresponds to the portfolio needs. Great post! 😉